Oven door mounting means

ABSTRACT

Means for mounting a door selectively across the front opening of an oven wherein pivot means are provided at one end of the door for mounting the door to a lower portion of the oven cabinet and to a trim strip at the top of the oven cabinet. The trim strip is arranged to define, with the door, a vent space for conducting hot gases from the oven forwardly therethrough. The trim strip is deflectible to permit facilitated removal of the door from the oven when desired. The trim strip is arranged to permit facilitated adjustment of the mounting of the upper pivot means on the door.

,0 Umted States Paten 1191 1111 Doner Jan. 29, 1974 OVEN DOOR MOUNTING MEANS Primary Examiner-Williarn F. ODea [75] Inventor. John T. Doner, Manon, Ohio Assistant Examiner Harold Joyce [73] Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Attorney, Agent, or Firm-James S. Nettleton et al.

Harbor, Mich.

[22] Filed: Nov. 5, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21 Appl. No.: 196,071 Means for mounting a door selectively across the front opening of an oven wherein pivot means are provided at one end of the door for mounting the door to a [2?] 126/21 lX21l2b61/3g lower portion ofthe oven cabinet and to a trim Strip at l d 200 21 the top of the oven cabinet. The trim strip is arranged le 0 are -2 0/ 31 49/5588 1 5 136 to define, with the door, a vent space for conducting hot gases from the oven forwardly therethrough. The 5 6 R f d trim strip is deflectible to permit facilitated removal of 1 e erences the door from the oven when desired. The trim strip is UNITED STATES PATENTS arranged to permit facilitated adjustment of the 3,045,663 7/1962 McDonnold 126/190 mounting of the upper pivot means on the door. 2,988,414 6/1961 Croive et a1... 16/129 X 3,378,954 4/1968 Sandin 16/134 x 14 Claims, 3 DraWinsFiglH'eS OVEN DOOR MOUNTING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION pensive and presents difficulty in removal of the door when desired, such as for maintenance purposes.

In certain of the known ovens, means are provided for defining an upper horizontal wall spaced above the top of the door for conducting hot gases from the oven outwardly therethrough in the normal use of the oven.

Further, in certain known oven door constructions, pivot pins are provided on the door for engaging suitable socket means carried by the oven wall to provide the desired swinging mounting.

Still further, in known oven door constructions, trim strips are provided around the front opening of the oven for aesthetic effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends the provision, in an oven construction having wall means defining an oven chamber having a front opening and including a top wall defining a front edge portion at the top of the opening, of means for selectively closing the opening comprising deflector means carried by the top wall from edge portion and projecting forwardly therefrom for deflecting forwardly hot gases passing from the oven chamber through the from opening, a door for selectively controlling access to the oven chamber through the front opening, and pivot means for pivotally mounting the door to the wall means including an upper pivot structure carried by the deflector means and door, the door being disposed under the deflector means and forwardly of the front opening in the chamber closing arrangement thereof.

The deflector means herein comprises a trim strip which is preferably formed of resilient deflectible material adapted to be sprung away from the top wall edge portion to permit selected connection and disconnection of the upper pivot structure thereto for facilitated removal and replacement of the oven door.

The deflector means may be provided with suitable holes permitting passage of a screwdriver, or the like, therethrough for the tightening of fasteners associated with an adjustment plate carried by the door for positioning the pivot means on the door for accurate alignment of the door relative to the oven wall means.

The pivot means may include a bushing structure adapted to maintain a desired spacing between the deflector means and the top of the door to define a passage for conducting hot gases from the oven forwardly outwardly therefrom.

The means for mounting the door on the oven is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing the highly desirable features discussed above. As indicated, the door mounting means permits facilitated installation and removal of the door relative to the oven wall. The adjustable means provides for facilitated accurate alignment of the door relative to the oven wall opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an oven construction having a door mounting means embodying the invention;

thereof with portions broken away to facilitate illustration of the invention and with the deflector means illustrated in broken lines in a retracted position for permitting removal of the door from the oven; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, an oven generally designated 10 is shown to comprise an eye level oven mounted on an upstanding rear range wall portion 11. The oven includes an outer cabinet wall means 12 defining a front opening 13 which is selectively closed by a door 14 adapted to be swung about a vertical axis 15 defined by an upper pivot means 16 and a lower pivot means 17 (FIG. 2). The oven cabinet may be provided with a suitable control panel 18 adjacent the distal end of the door. Wall means 12 includes a top wall 19 defining a front edge portion 20 at the top of the front opening 13. A trim strip deflector 21 is secured to the wall front edge portion 20 by suitable means, such as screws 22, to extend outwardly therefrom ina cantilevered fashion, as shown in FIG. 3, thereby to overlie the door 14 when the door is in the closed position across opening 13. The pivot means 16 and 17 space the door forwardly on the front wall 23 of cabinet 12 so as to define a vertical passage 24 for conducting hot gases upwardly from the front opening 13. The top 25 of the door is spaced below the deflector trim strip 21 to define a continuation 26 of passage 24 for conducting the hot gases forwardly outwardly therefrom, as shown in FIG. 3. The door may include a suitable double glazed window construction 27 to permit viewing of the interior of the oven chamber 28 as desired.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the deflector strip 21 comprises an elongated deflectible strip. In the illustrated embodiment, strip 21 is formed of a resilient material, such as metal, permitting the end portion 29 thereof to be sprung upwardly away from the cabinet top wall portion 20 upon removal of end screw 22a thereby permitting disconnection of pivot means 16 and subsequent disconnection of the lower pivot means 17 for facilitated removal of the door from the oven when desired.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, pivot means 16 includes an annular bushing 30 and a pivot pin 31 cooperatively defining the vertical pivot for the door. Herein, bushing 30 is mounted in deflector strip 21 and pin 31 is secured to an adjustment plate 32 secured to the upper wall 25 of door 14. Bushing 30 may be secured to the.

deflector strip 21 by riveting the end of bushing 30. A plastic washer 33 may be provided between the bushing FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged front elevationv 30 and the top 25 of the door for facilitated rotation of the door relative to the bushing. As shown in FIG. 2, bushing 30 may be moved upwardly from the pivot pin 31 by the upward springing of the end 29 of the deflector strip thereby to disconnect the upper pivot means 16 when desired.

Adjustment plate 32 is adjustably secured to the door top wall 25 by a plurality of screws 34 threaded into suitable threaded openings 35 in the adjustment plate and passing freely downwardly through elongated slots 36 in the door top wall 25. The trim strip 21 is provided with holes 37 through which a screwdriver may be extended to engage the heads 38 of screws 34 for effecting the tightening thereof in fixedly mounting the door to the cabinet in accurate adjusted relationship. Door top wall 25 is further provided with an elongated slot 39 through which the pivot pin 31 extends to provide for corresponding lateral adjustment of the pivot pin to provide the desired adjusted mounting of the door.

The lower pivot means 17 may comprise a pivot pin 40 similar to pivot pin 31 secured to a hinge bracket 41 secured to the oven wall and extending upwardly through a plastic washer 42 into a suitable opening 43 in a hinge plate 44 secured to the bottom wall 45 of the door by suitable screws 46. The pivot pin 40 and screws 46 extend upwardly through suitable slots 47 in the door bottom wall 45 to provide for facilitated lateral adjustment of the pivot pin journal 43 reversely similar to the lateral adjustment permitted by the adjustable mounting of adjustment plate 32.

The periphery of door 14 may comprise an extruded frame 48 defining the upper wall 25 and the bottom wall 45.

The distal end 50 of the door may be provided with spring biased bullet latch or catch element 51 cooperating with mating catch element 52 carried on the cabinet wall adjacent control panel 18 for releasably locking the door in the closed position shown in full lines in FIG. 1.

Thus, the present invention comprehends an improved oven construction having wall means 13 defining an oven chamber 28 including a top wall 19 defining a front edge portion 21 at the top of the opening. Means are provided for selectively closing the opening including a deflector strip 21 carried by wall portion and projecting upwardly therefrom for deflecting forwardly hot gases passing from the oven chamber 28 through the front opening 13. A door 14 is provided for selectively controlling access to the oven chamber through the front opening and is mounted to the cabinet by pivot means 16 and 17. The upper pivot means 16 is carried by the deflector strip and an adjustment plate 32 on the door. The deflector strip is resilient and is adapted to be sprung away from the wall portion 20 to permit selective connection and disconnection of the upper pivot means for facilitated removal of the door from the oven structure when desired. The adjustment plates 32 and 44 are readily fixedly secured to the door in a desired adjusted position by a suitable tool passed through openings 37 provided in the deflector strip.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In an oven construction having wall means defining an oven chamber having a front opening and including a top wall defining a front edge portion at the top of said opening, means for selectively closing said opening comprising: deflector means carried by said top wall front edge portion and projecting forwardly therefrom for deflecting forwardly hot gases passing from the oven chamber through said front opening; a door for selectively controlling access to said oven chamber through said front opening; and pivot means for pivotally mounting said door to said wall means including cooperating structure carried by said deflector means and door, said door being disposed under said deflector means and forwardly of said front opening in the chamber closing arrangement thereof, said deflector means including a deflectible portion permitting separation of said cooperating pivot structure while maintaining said deflector means fixedly secured to said top wall thereby to permit selective mounting and unmounting of said door relative to said wall means.

2. In an oven construction having wall means defining an oven chamber having a front opening and including a top wall defining a front edge portion at the top of said opening, means for selectively closing said opening comprising: deflector means carried by said top wall front edge portion and projecting forwardly therefrom for deflecting forwardly hot gases passing from the oven chamber through said front opening; a door for selectively controlling access to said oven chamber through said front opening; and pivot means for pivotally mounting said door to said wall means including cooperating structure carried by said deflector means and door, said door being disposed under said deflector means and forwardly of said front opening in the chamber closing arrangement thereof, said deflector means being resilient and including an end portion adapted to be sprung away from said top wall edge portion sufficiently to permit selective connection and disconnection of said pivot means thereto.

3. The oven construction means of claim 2 wherein a plurality of fasteners is provided for securing said deflector means to said top wall front edge portion including a removable end fastener adjacent said upper pivot structure. i i i 4. The oven construction means of claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes a pivot pin carried for pivoting about a vertical axis by one of said door and deflector means and a pivot bushing carried by the other of said door and deflector means. I V

5. The oven construction means of claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes a lower pivot element carried by said wall means at the bottom of said front opening.

6. Tl'ie ovenconstruction means of claim 1 wherein said door includes an upper horizontal wall portion, said pivot means includes a hinge adjustment plate horizontally adjustably received subjacent said door upper wall portion, said pivot means including a first pivot element carried by said adjustment plate and a cooperating second pivot element carried by said deflector means, and fastener means for adjustably securing said adjustment plate to said door upper wall portion for adjustably positioning said first pivot element relative to said second pivot element.

7. The oven construction means of claim 1 wherein said deflector plate is provided with an access hole, said door includes an upper horizontal wall portion, said pivot means includes a hinge adjustment plate horizontally adjustably received subjacent said door upper wall portion, said pivot means including a first pivot element carried by said adjustment plate and a cooperating second pivot element carried by said deflector means, and fastener means for adjustably securing said adjustment plate to said door upper wall portion for adjustably positioning said first pivot element relative to said second pivot element, said access holesin said deflector means providing access to said fastener means for securing thereof in the adjusted position of said adjustment plate with said pivot elements accurately in pivotal connected association 8. In an oven construction having wall means defining an oven chamber having a front opening and including a top wall defining a front edge portion at the top of said opening, means for selectively closing said opening comprising: deflector means carried by said top wall front edge portion and projecting forwardly therefrom for deflecting forwardly hot gases passing from the oven chamber through said front opening; a door for selectively controlling access to said oven chamber through said front opening; and pivot means for pivotally mounting said door to said wall means including an upper pivot structure having separable portions carried by said deflector means and door, respectively, said door being disposed under said deflector means and forwardly of said front opening in the chamber closing arrangement thereof and defining means for selectively maintaining a preselected vertical spacing between the top of the door and the underside of said deflector means to provide a preselected forwardly opening vent space for conducting said hot gases therethrough, said deflector having a fixed portion fixedly secured to said top wall and a deflectible portion on which said upper pivot structure is carried permitting a selective increase in the spacing between the door and the deflector means suitable to disconnect said upper pivot structure portions for removal of the door from the oven construction when desired, means carried by said top wall front edge portion and projecting forwardly therefrom for deflecting forwardly hot gases passing from the oven chamber through said front opening; a door for selectively controlling access to said oven chamber through said front opening; and pivot means for pivotally mounting said door to said wall means including an upper pivot structure having separable portions carried by said deflector means and door, respectively, said door being disposed under said deflector means and forwardly of said front opening in the chamber closing arrangement thereof and defining means for selectively maintaining a preselected vertical spacing between the top of the door and the underside of said deflector means to provide a preselected forwardly opening vent space for conducting said hot gases therethrough, said deflector having a movable portion on which said upper pivot structure is carried permitting a selective increase in the spacing between the door and the deflector means suitable to disconnect said upper pivot structure portions for removal of the door from the oven construction when desired.

9. The oven construction means of claim 8 wherein said deflector plate is provided with an access hole, said door includes an upper horizontal wall portion, said upper pivot structure includes a hinge adjustment plate horizontally adjustably received subjacent said door upper wall portion, said upper pivot structure including a first pivot element carried by said adjustment plate and a cooperating second pivot element carried by said deflector means, and fastener means for adjustably securing said adjustment plate to said door upper wall portion for adjustably positioning said first pivot element relative to said second pivot element, said access holes in said deflector means providing access to said fastener means for securing thereof in the adjusted position of said adjustment plate with said pivot elements accurately in pivotal connected association, said fastener means comprising screws having heads disposed in the space between the top of the door and said deflector means and accessible through said access openings, and threaded shank portions laterally movably extending through said door upper wall portion and threaded to said adjustment plate.

10. The oven construction means of claim 8 wherein said door includes an upper horizontal wall portion, said upper pivot structure includes an adjustment plate horizontally adjustably received subjacent said door upper wall portion, said upper pivot structure including a pivot pin carried by said adjustment plate and a cooperating pivot bushing carried by said deflector means, and fastener means for adjustably securing said adjustment plate to said door upper wall portion for adjustably positioning said pivot pin relative to said pivot bushing.

11. In an oven construction having wall means defining an oven chamber having a first opening, means for selectively closing said opening comprising:

a door for selectively closing said front opening; and pivot means for pivotally mounting said door to said wall means including a first pivot portion on said door, resilient deflectible means on said wall means, and a second pivot portion on said deflectible means for cooperating with said first pivot means to pivotally mount said door to said wall means, said pivot means being disengageable as a result of manual deflection of said deflectible means for disconnecting said door from said wall means when desired.

12. The oven construction means of claim 11 wherein said deflectible means comprises a decorative trim strip secured to said wall means adjacent said front opening.

13. The oven construction means of claim 11 wherein said deflectible means comprises means for directing hot gases passing from said oven chamber.

14. The oven construction means of claim 11 further including spring biased cooperating bullet catch means carried by said door and said wall means for releasably securing the door in the oven closing arrangement. 

1. In an oven construction having wall means defining an oven chamber having a front opening and including a top wall defining a front edge portion at the top of said opening, means for selectively closing said opening comprising: deflector means carried by said top wall front edge portion and projecting forwardly therefrom for deflecting forwardly hot gases passing from the oven chamber through said front opening; a door for selectively controlling access to said oven chamber through said front opening; and pivot means for pivotally mounting said door to said wall means including cooperating structure carried by said deflector means and door, said door being disposed under said deflector means and forwardly of said front opening in the chamber closing arrangement thereof, said deflector means including a deflectible portion permitting separation of said cooperating pivot structure while maintaining said deflector means fixedly secured to said top wall thereby to permit selective mounting and unmounting of said door relative to said wall means.
 2. In an oven construction having wall means defining an oven chamber having a front opening and including a toP wall defining a front edge portion at the top of said opening, means for selectively closing said opening comprising: deflector means carried by said top wall front edge portion and projecting forwardly therefrom for deflecting forwardly hot gases passing from the oven chamber through said front opening; a door for selectively controlling access to said oven chamber through said front opening; and pivot means for pivotally mounting said door to said wall means including cooperating structure carried by said deflector means and door, said door being disposed under said deflector means and forwardly of said front opening in the chamber closing arrangement thereof, said deflector means being resilient and including an end portion adapted to be sprung away from said top wall edge portion sufficiently to permit selective connection and disconnection of said pivot means thereto.
 3. The oven construction means of claim 2 wherein a plurality of fasteners is provided for securing said deflector means to said top wall front edge portion including a removable end fastener adjacent said upper pivot structure.
 4. The oven construction means of claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes a pivot pin carried for pivoting about a vertical axis by one of said door and deflector means and a pivot bushing carried by the other of said door and deflector means.
 5. The oven construction means of claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes a lower pivot element carried by said wall means at the bottom of said front opening.
 6. The oven construction means of claim 1 wherein said door includes an upper horizontal wall portion, said pivot means includes a hinge adjustment plate horizontally adjustably received subjacent said door upper wall portion, said pivot means including a first pivot element carried by said adjustment plate and a cooperating second pivot element carried by said deflector means, and fastener means for adjustably securing said adjustment plate to said door upper wall portion for adjustably positioning said first pivot element relative to said second pivot element.
 7. The oven construction means of claim 1 wherein said deflector plate is provided with an access hole, said door includes an upper horizontal wall portion, said pivot means includes a hinge adjustment plate horizontally adjustably received subjacent said door upper wall portion, said pivot means including a first pivot element carried by said adjustment plate and a cooperating second pivot element carried by said deflector means, and fastener means for adjustably securing said adjustment plate to said door upper wall portion for adjustably positioning said first pivot element relative to said second pivot element, said access holes in said deflector means providing access to said fastener means for securing thereof in the adjusted position of said adjustment plate with said pivot elements accurately in pivotal connected association.
 8. In an oven construction having wall means defining an oven chamber having a front opening and including a top wall defining a front edge portion at the top of said opening, means for selectively closing said opening comprising: deflector means carried by said top wall front edge portion and projecting forwardly therefrom for deflecting forwardly hot gases passing from the oven chamber through said front opening; a door for selectively controlling access to said oven chamber through said front opening; and pivot means for pivotally mounting said door to said wall means including an upper pivot structure having separable portions carried by said deflector means and door, respectively, said door being disposed under said deflector means and forwardly of said front opening in the chamber closing arrangement thereof and defining means for selectively maintaining a preselected vertical spacing between the top of the door and the underside of said deflector means to provide a preselected forwardly opening vent space for conducting said hot gases therethrough, said deflector havinG a fixed portion fixedly secured to said top wall and a deflectible portion on which said upper pivot structure is carried permitting a selective increase in the spacing between the door and the deflector means suitable to disconnect said upper pivot structure portions for removal of the door from the oven construction when desired, means carried by said top wall front edge portion and projecting forwardly therefrom for deflecting forwardly hot gases passing from the oven chamber through said front opening; a door for selectively controlling access to said oven chamber through said front opening; and pivot means for pivotally mounting said door to said wall means including an upper pivot structure having separable portions carried by said deflector means and door, respectively, said door being disposed under said deflector means and forwardly of said front opening in the chamber closing arrangement thereof and defining means for selectively maintaining a preselected vertical spacing between the top of the door and the underside of said deflector means to provide a preselected forwardly opening vent space for conducting said hot gases therethrough, said deflector having a movable portion on which said upper pivot structure is carried permitting a selective increase in the spacing between the door and the deflector means suitable to disconnect said upper pivot structure portions for removal of the door from the oven construction when desired.
 9. The oven construction means of claim 8 wherein said deflector plate is provided with an access hole, said door includes an upper horizontal wall portion, said upper pivot structure includes a hinge adjustment plate horizontally adjustably received subjacent said door upper wall portion, said upper pivot structure including a first pivot element carried by said adjustment plate and a cooperating second pivot element carried by said deflector means, and fastener means for adjustably securing said adjustment plate to said door upper wall portion for adjustably positioning said first pivot element relative to said second pivot element, said access holes in said deflector means providing access to said fastener means for securing thereof in the adjusted position of said adjustment plate with said pivot elements accurately in pivotal connected association, said fastener means comprising screws having heads disposed in the space between the top of the door and said deflector means and accessible through said access openings, and threaded shank portions laterally movably extending through said door upper wall portion and threaded to said adjustment plate.
 10. The oven construction means of claim 8 wherein said door includes an upper horizontal wall portion, said upper pivot structure includes an adjustment plate horizontally adjustably received subjacent said door upper wall portion, said upper pivot structure including a pivot pin carried by said adjustment plate and a cooperating pivot bushing carried by said deflector means, and fastener means for adjustably securing said adjustment plate to said door upper wall portion for adjustably positioning said pivot pin relative to said pivot bushing.
 11. In an oven construction having wall means defining an oven chamber having a first opening, means for selectively closing said opening comprising: a door for selectively closing said front opening; and pivot means for pivotally mounting said door to said wall means including a first pivot portion on said door, resilient deflectible means on said wall means, and a second pivot portion on said deflectible means for cooperating with said first pivot means to pivotally mount said door to said wall means, said pivot means being disengageable as a result of manual deflection of said deflectible means for disconnecting said door from said wall means when desired.
 12. The oven construction means of claim 11 wherein said deflectible means comprises a decorative trim strip secured to said wall means adjacent said front opening.
 13. The oven construction means of claim 11 wherein said deflectible means comprises means for directing hot gases passing from said oven chamber.
 14. The oven construction means of claim 11 further including spring biased cooperating bullet catch means carried by said door and said wall means for releasably securing the door in the oven closing arrangement. 